The Israel Security Agency (ISA) recently uncovered an attempt to smuggle in a terrorist expert trained by the military wing of Hamas, to establish terror infrastructures in Yehuda and Shomron. Among other things, the expert planned to set up an explosives laboratory in order to manufacture explosive devices to be used in terror attacks in Israel. Fadi al-Sabah, 35, a resident of Gaza, was arrested two months ago after being recruited into Hamas last July.

Fadi underwent intensive military training to prepare explosives and explosive devices and was briefed on how to respond to the security inspection at the Erez Crossing from Gaza to Israel as well being trained as how to respond to questioning by the ISA. He was instructed to deny his acquaintance with his recruits and followers in Gaza.

Fadi was enlisted into Hamas in Gaza when released from prison in Israel in 2015 after serving a 12-year term for his involvement against attacks against IDF soldiers along the Gaza border as well as other acts of terror.

The ISA and police investigation revealed that during the course of July 2018, Ashraf first approached Fadi after he heard that he was in the process of receiving a humanitarian permit for medical treatment in PA areas. In the summer of 2018, Fadi met secretly with Izzadin al-Qassam activists who paved his way to the world of sabotage and preparing attacks. The meetings were held in the house of Masab Hashalmon, a military-terrorist operative who was released in the Shalit deal, and in the presence of Ashraf Sabah and his brother Hassan Sabah, Hamas operatives involved in organizing terrorist acts.

The interrogation also revealed that prior to his medical treatment, Fadi received a coat containing a piece of cloth that contained code words for the purpose of encrypted communication between the Hamas military wing in Gaza and the recruits in Yehuda and Shomron, in order to plan and carry out attacks against Israeli targets. Fadi was asked to transfer the coat with the cloth on his way to the Eretz Crossing last September, for medical treatment in Jordan, but the attempt failed.

In May of this year, Fadi tried to enter Israel again and towards achieving this, he contacted a doctor and paid her to falsify medical documents indicating that he could not receive proper treatment for his injury in Gaza, in order to ensure that he would receive approval for treatment in Israel. Upon receipt of the permits, Fadi underwent tests and training in the preparation of explosives to ensure that he is skilled enough to train activists in PA (Palestinian Authority) areas.

Afterward, Fadi arrived at the Erez Crossing carrying the bag containing the coat he had received with the piece of cloth hidden in it. He took advantage of the humanitarian permit he received from Israel for medical treatment in Hebron.

On May 18th, shortly after entering Israel, he was arrested in a joint operation of the ISA and Israel Police in the Taibeh area. Others were arrested at the same time, believed to assisting Fadi. After they were interrogated, they were released by the ISA. Fadi has been indicted in the Yehuda Military Court.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem/Photo & Video Credit: ISA Spokesman Unit)